Dennis Locorriere, the co-founder and vocalist for Dr Hook & The Medicine Show, died on May 16, 2026 at age 76 after a long, courageous battle with kidney disease, his management said. He sang alongside Ray Sawyer, who died in 2019, and helped define hits incl
Dennis Locorriere, the frontman and co-founder of the 1970s hitmakers Dr Hook, has died at 76.
A statement from Locorriere’s management said he passed away “peacefully surrounded by his loved ones on May 16 2026” after “a long and courageous battle with kidney disease.” The release added that he “faced his illness with remarkable strength. dignity. and resilience throughout. ” and urged privacy as his family and loved ones “grieve this profound loss.”
Locorriere sang vocals for the band alongside Ray Sawyer, who died in 2019. The group was known as Dr Hook & The Medicine Show until 1975, and became best known for songs including “When You’re In Love With A Beautiful Woman,” “Sharing The Night Together,” and “Sylvia’s Mother.”
Born in Union City, New Jersey, Locorriere lived in the UK for 24 years before his death. He founded the group, which debuted in 1971, with Sawyer, Billy Francis and George Cummings, before later forging a solo career.
In 2014, the band reached number 11 on the top 40 chart Timeless, a 40-track collection of chart hits, love songs and lesser-known gems from their extensive repertoire, more than 40 years on from their debut and seven years since their last top 20 album.
During a career spanning nearly six decades, Locorriere recorded more than 18 albums.
Taken together. the band’s timeline places Locorriere’s work across distinct phases: Dr Hook & The Medicine Show debuted in 1971. the name changed by 1975. the band later returned to prominence in 2014 with Timeless reaching number 11. and Locorriere’s own death in 2026 came after kidney disease—after Ray Sawyer died in 2019.
For many fans, his voice remained tied to the group’s most enduring catalog, even as the years stretched on from their early hits and their later collections.
Dennis Locorriere Dr Hook Dr Hook & The Medicine Show Ray Sawyer kidney disease Union City New Jersey May 16 2026 Timeless